About Me

A historian and consultant on many aspects of 18c life, I have depicted known and little known women of that period - and occasionally overstepped the centuries in both directions.
Now a focus on preserving family memories.

Item. I hereby order my old mare to be & remain on the Farm for the use of my wife and the family living in the house if my said Executrix after named shall think proper.All the rest . . to my beloved wife, Hannah Green whom I hereby appoint sole executrix . . . . 1 June 1776 [signed X William Green his mark - the will probated 9 June 1778.]

Hannah died 3 Sep 1797, and she too left a will, dated 25 Dec 1793:

that once all debts be paid a bequest to her grandchildren, Jabez Green, Benjamin Green, Ruth Bradish, Edee Lakin, 6 shillings to be divided equally and paid within one year. To her childreen: Hannah Hobart - one half of my wearing apparell, and the other half tothe daughters of Abigail Sheple, deceased. The rest of her goods and estate to be divided and shared by sons William Green & Jonas Green, by daughter Hannah Hobart and heirs of daughter Abigail Sheple, deceased.“Allowing my Grand Son Leonard Green, to have as Good a Share with the said William, Jonas, Hannah and the heirs of Abigail Sheple Deceased; as he would have had by Law if this will had never been made. Providing the Said Leonard Shall live to arrive to the age of Twenty one years. Excepting the ware-ing apparell. But if the said Leonard Should be taken away by Death before he arrives to the age of Twenty one years, then his part is to be equally divided between the afore mentioned heirs.”[Her sons William & Jonas, Executors. She signed her name Hannah Green]

Both William & Hannah (Holden) Green are buried in Sec III North, of the Old Burying Ground in Groton.

I RECALL:Questions raised by Hannah’s will and the mention of one particular “grandson” - Leonard. There is no documentation of a grandson by that name, however we note that at the time the will was written (1793), Leonard who had not reached age 21 would have to have been born after 1772. Jabez Green is listed as a grandson in the will but not on the updated list of grandchildren, also Ruth Bradish - so since Hannah’s son Benjamin Green (whose wife was Ruth) had two children mentioned by Hannah ( Benjamin & Ede) and they had three more children, names unknown - perhaps ? Ruth Bradish, Jabez Green and Leonard Green were theirs?????